Record of Chesapeake Quarterly Meeting

held at

Baltimore Stony Run Third Month 12, 2006

 

1. Opening

      The business  meeting of the Quarter opened at 1PM with John McKusick as presiding clerk, and Alan DeSilva as recorder, following the morning program (see Item 11) and a sumptuous  lunch provided by our hosts. John presented a minute of appreciation to Homewood for hosting the 9/05 meeting (attached). Approved

 

2. Roll call

     The meeting was attended by representatives of all of the meetings of the Quarter, a total of about 25. The following members agreed to act as liasons  to their Monthly Meetings: Pat Schenk (Annapolis); Polly Henninger (Baltimore Homewood); Michael Boardman (Baltimore Stony Run); Donna Smith (Gunpowder); Bobbi Siebens (Little Falls); Ken Stockbridge (Patapsco); Cynthia Gonzales (Patuxent); Alan DeSilva (Sandy Spring); Tom Shapiro (Seneca Valley).

 

3. Agenda review.

    The agenda was approved, after deletion of an item for a report from the West River Burial Ground, since no representative from WRBG was present.

 

4. Record of 9/05 meeting

    The record of the Ninth Month 2005 meeting was approved as corrected.

 

5. Calendar

     Gunpowder has proposed a switch in 2007 with Patapsco, and this awaits approval of both meetings. With this change, the schedule for hosting is:

            2006                6th Month  L;ittle Falls

                                    9th Month  Sandy Spring

            2007                3rd Month  Seneca Valley

                                    6th Month            Gunpowder

                                    9th Month            Patapsco

 

6. Travel Minute

   A travel minute (attached) for Ken Stockbridge to travel among Friends meetings, particularly those of FUM, which was previously approved by Patapsco Friends Meeting, was approved.

 

7. Officers

   The names of Ken Stockbridge for Clerk, and Alan DeSilva for Recorder, for two year terms were presented for second reading, and both were approved. At this point, Ken took over as clerk for the remainder of the meeting. Ken thanked John for his service, and Jim Rose agreed to draft a minute of appreciation to John to be presented at the Sixth Month meeting.

 

8. Announcements and Sharings

   Pat Schenk (Ann) noted that America's first Quakers were living in Anne Arundel County when Elizabeth Harris, a traveling minister from England, visited with them in 1656 and they became convinced Friends. Annapolis is planning an extensive celebration in the fall of 2006 of the history of these early Quakers in America. She also noted that the clerking workshop organized by Arthur Larabee at Pendle Hill is very useful.

 

   Nancy Clark reminded us that BYM is engaged in a search for a replacement for Frank Massey.

 

    Ramona Buck noted that Patapsco holds a peace vigil monthly on Seventh Days.

 

   Cynthia Gonzales reported that Patuxent has 2 new members, and will have two marriages to celebrate in the near future. Two members have been to the Gulf Coast as relief workers, and one member has traveled to Uganda. and one to Switzerland.

 

   John McKusick requested that Monthly Meetings send copies of their spiritual state of the meeting reports to the clerk of CQM. BH has instituted a listening project, hoping to identify common concerns of Friends. This is a part of the font-family:"New York";'> Baltimore Regional Initiative to Develop Genuine Equality (BRIDGE) program.

 

    Tom Shapiro announced that SV will celebrate a marriage in June.  He noted that SV has asked SS for support  With the loss of some seasoned Friends, they have struggled with chaotic business meetings. There has been some talk of moving the Meeting location to Friends School where they could have a place of their own Lowell Christy (clerk) has asked us to be aware that the “Eyes Wide Open” exhibit is now in Pennsylvania. He has been trying to set up roving dinner meetings with local churches, but with little success in setting acceptible dates. Tom distributed words to a song by Alexandra R. Lajoux, a tribute to the servicemen on active duty.

 

   Elizabeth DuVerlie (BSR) told of plans for a Peacemakers Day on 11/11/06, to help educators with techniques and strategies of peacemaking. They will be using the book “War Prevention Works”, available at BSR for $20.

 

   Bill Harlan (LF) announced that the font-family:"New York";'>Friends Historical Association has planned its spring outing to be held at Little Falls on May 7 They are having two weddings this year, in Sixth and Ninth Months. Upcoming events are a young peoples concert “Milkshake” in Sixth Month, and a bluegrass concert in Seventh Month. A member, John Love, is living in France. Bill reported on progress of the new Friends school in Harford, which is under joint care of Little Falls and Deer Creek, and anticipates a new 6th grade next year in addition to those rising to the 7th. Their  outreach summer learning program for children 4-12 that now enrolls 150 students has been turned over to the school. Edith Ballard reminded us that a worship group meets 11:30-12:30 at Sheppard Pratt.

 

   Susan Rose (Patapsco) presented a minute to establish the “South Mountain Friends Fellowship” at the Maryland correctional Institution-Hagerstown (attached). The minute has been approved by Patapsco Meeting. We received the minute, and left it for further discernment regarding additional action.

 

   Donna Smith (Gp) spoke of their vibrant spiritual formation group, and their pleasure at having many young children in the Meeting. She also reported that a 17 page child safety policy for their Meeting has been approved and implemented by the Meeting . She offers assistance to other Meetings in preparing their responses to legal requirements on this subject. This led to comments from other Meeting representatives on the issue . Frederick Meeting has experienced a problem, and now has a document on the subject, and Patuxent is working on one that will reflect both the spiritual needs and satisfy legal requirements. Patapsco is holding a threshing session on the topic. Ken agreed to receive copies of these documents to share among Meetings of the Quarter.

 

9. Support request

      "Polly Henninger shared an appeal for support from Marshall Massey of Omaha Monthly Meeting for his walk from Omaha to Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he has been invited to give a plenary address to BYM on living in harmony with the Earth.  Marshall received this leading to have a journey of spiritual discerment, on which he hopes to listen and learn to those he encounters along the way, and his meeting has minuted its support after a clearness process.  The project is outlined in detail on a letter from Marshall (attached). He asks for support of Meetings along his path. He needs donations of about $11,000 to support this effort, and asks for contributions. It was suggested that Meetings set up a matching fund program, so the Meeting would match donations by individuals, to involve closely those who choose to donate. There was some concern expressed as to our responsibility to support this effort. It was pointed out that we should trust in the diligence of Omaha Meeting to have carefully considered it. Ken asked that we take Marshall’s letter to our Meetings for their consideration.

 

10. Reports and Updates

    Susan Rose reported that the  Interfaith Coalition for Peace of the Central Maryland Ecumenical Council has disbanded.

    Maryland Marriage Equality Litigation

John McKusick showed a letter addressed to churches he had received (apparently as ex-clerk of BH) from Del. Donald Dwyer, asking for support in opposing same sex marriages. John will draft a response letter reaffirming our position, and including CQM’s previous Minute on the subject. This action was approved. This action should be taken to our Monthly Meetings.

 

11. Program

     The morning program was a talk and discussion with Jeanne Herrick-Stare, FCNL Senior Fellow for Civil Liberties and Human Rights. She spoke of the erosion of civil rights after 9/11, and of the use by the USA of torture in interrogations.

 

12. Next Meeting

   Bill Harlan announced that Little Falls will host the Sixth Month meeting, but that the venue will be Sheppard-Pratt hospital. The theme will be Mental Health: the Legacy of Moses Sheppard. The speaker will be Steven S. Sharfstein, MD, MPA, President and CEO, Sheppard Pratt Health System. This will provide the opportunity for SP and the Quaker community to become better acquainted with each other.

 

13. Closing

The meeting closed with a period of worship,  in which we remembered Tom Fox, a CPT volunteer in Iraq and beloved member of BYM, who had been kidnapped in late November and found dead the past 6th day

 

Attachments:

Travel minute

South Mountain Friends Fellowship minute

Dwyer letter

Massey letter [PDF]